Copyholding attachment for desks and the like



March 31, 1931. A. F. RANDALL 1,798,809

COPYHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 MUM 7 magi/. I 8- March 31, 1931. A. F. RANDALL OOPYHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1930 March 31, 1931. A. F. RANDALL COPYHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, L950 III.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 31, 1931. A. F. RANDALL COPYHOLDING ATTACHMENT FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 31, 1931 Uhll'l'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR F. RANDALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Application filed May 22,

My invention relates to copy-holding attachments tor desks, tables and the like, and it has for its object to provide an etlicient device olt this class which shall be 01: simple and inexpensive construction.

' llalore especially this invention is intended to provide a. copy-holding attachment that is particularly adapted for use by typists while ol'ierating a typewriting machine and which will not be arred or vibrated by the operation oi the latter; which can be attached in any position desired to the marginal portion of the top of the desk or the lilre on which the l t iiewriting machine is used; which will not .erially interfere with the use, as heretotore, of the entire top of the desk or table to which it is applied, and which can be adjusted at will horizontally back and forth above the top or the desk or the like without interfering with papers, books or other things that may be upon the latter.

To these ends I have provided an attachment of the class described comprising three main parts, via, a clamp member having means whereby it is fixedly but removably clamped to the verhanging marginal portion of the top of a desk or the like; an intermediate cantilever member extending laterally from said clamp member having one end thereof rotatably supported by said clamp member so that said cantilever member can be swung horizontally back and forth above said top on a vertical axis, and a copy-holdlug member pivotally connected with the opposite free end of said intermediate cantilever member so as to be rotatably adjustable horizontally around a vertical axis that is parallel with the axis 011 which said member swung horizontally.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

in the accompanying draiwings:

Figure 1 shows in side elevation the upper portion of a desk having copy-holding attachment constructed in ac cm'dance with my invention.

Figure is a section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an edge view of the adjustable liner clement hereinafter referred to.

applied thereto a 1930. Serial N'o. 454,630.

Figures 4 and 5 are details relating to the liner element hereinafter described.

lligure 6 is a front elevation of the copyholding member hereinafter described.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the copyholding member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the copyh' lding member shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig ure 6.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the clamp base member hereinafter described.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the clamp member shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a top plan View of the clamp base member shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 13 is a side elevation,.partly in section, of the lower portion of the attachment shown in Figure 1, the clamp base member being shown as in section on line 13-13 of Figure 10.

Figure 14: is a top plan view of the nut element hereinafter referred to which forms part of the clamp member shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of one form of intermediate member.

Figure 16 is a side elevation, partly in section, or" another form o1 intermediate member and a part of the copy-holding member.

Figure 17 is a sectional view on line 17l7 of Figure 16.

My in'iproved copy-holding attachment, as herein shown, comprises a. base clamp menr her 1, an intermediate cantilever member or arm 2 and a copy-holding member 8.

At its lower end the intermediate member 2 is made with a depending vertically disposed trunnion end portion 4, Figure 15, that is rotatably supported within a socket or chamber 5, Fig. 13, provided at the top of the base member 1. From the end trunnion portion 4 the intermediate member 2 extends laterally and at its free end it is bent upwardly to provide a vertically disposed end trunnion por tion 6 u Don which is telescopically and loose- 1y fitted a socket 7 provided upon the rear side, and at the middle of, the copy-holding member 8, said socket 7 being provided at its upper end with abutment lugs 8, 8, as

shown best in Figure 2, which rest and slide upon the top of the end trunnion portion 6 of the intermediate member.

It will thus be clear that the intermediate arm r ember 2 is free to swing laterally on base member 1 entirely around the vertical axis of the end trunnion portion at while the copy-holding member 3 is free to be swung around the vertical axis of the end trunnion portion {3 for the greater part of a complete revolution.

As shown in Figures 6, '7 and 8, the copy holding member 3 comprises body 9 consisting of a rectangular panel of ti in sheet metal, to the rear side of w rich the socket 7 is aliixcd by spot-welding, as at 10, said socket being formed from sheet metal also, and being disposed obliquely with respect to the plane of the sheet metal panel 9, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, with the result that when the device is in use the anel 9 inclines rearwardly and the liner ment 11, hereinafter described, held or .red rearwardly by gravity a inst the front face of said panel, or againsthe copy or si sets of paper which may 0 cupy position on said front face heneath said liner element 1 Since the pivotal support for the inclined copy-holding member 3 i disposed vertically and parallel with the axis of the trunnion end portion 1, it will be clear that no matter how the two members 2 and 3'may be adjusted relatively to the clamp base member 1 and relatively to each other, the inclined median line of the panel 9, as viewed in Figure 6, will always occupy a vertical plane within which the axis of the trunnion portion 6 of the intermediate member is disposed.

Thus the base member 1 may be fixed to the back, her side or to the front of the desk top andhowever it may be applied the copy on the member 3 is always properly presented to the view of the user seated at the front of the desk.

it will also be clear that when the copyholder is not in use the intermediate member 2 and the copy-holding member 3 may be swung on the axis of trunnions positions at one side, desk where they are out of the way. Also, the copy-holding member 3 may be adjusted on trunnions 1 and 6 to accord with changes in the sou ce of light.

The socket 5 is closed at its lower end by a nut element 12, Figures 13 and 1 1, which is fixed in position within the lower end of the socket 5 by means of an inwardly bent lug or tang 13 occupying a notch 14 in a flange 15 atthe lower end of the nut element 12, said lug also serving to hold said nut element against rotation, as will be clear.

The base member 1 is constructed with a lower fixed jaw 16 adapted to occupy a position beneath the marginal portion of a desk top or the like 17, as shown in Figures 1 and l and 6 into or at the back, of the 13, and with a movable or adjustable jaw 18 rotatably connected with the lower end of a screw 19 which extends upwardly through nut element 12,'with its upper end terminating above the top of the socket 5 so that it is accessible, said upper end being made square as at 20 thereby to adapt it to be operated by a wrench.

The base member 1 is applied to the desk top by positioning the fixed aw 16 below the marginal portion thereof as shown in Figure 13 after which the screw 19 is operated so as to firmly grip the desk top between the two jaws 16 and 18. The lower end of the intermedia e member 2 is then inserted within the socket 5 after which the socket 7 of the copy-holding member 3 is fitted telescopically on to the upper end of said intermediate member 2.

The intermediate member 2 is conveniently made from a length of metal tubing and when its lower end is inserted within the socket 5 the upper portion of the screw 19 occupies a position within said tubing where it is not only hidden from View, which is desirable, but also inclosed so that there are no projecting portions on the base member 1 liable to become entangled with clothing, or to injure a persons body through contact therewith.

Preferably the desk-engaging portion of the fixed jaw 16 is provided with a pair of spikes or teeth 21 which are driven into the material of a wooden desk top when the clamp base is applied to the latter as de scribed. These spikes hold the base clamp 1 fixedly in position against displacement on the axis of the screw 19 and they also serve to hold the base clamp against displacement in any direction laterally with respect to the desk top.

As shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13 the movable or adjustable jaw 18 of the base clamp is notched as at 22 so as to straddle the body of the base clamp whereby said movable or adjustable jaw is held against rotative displacement relatively to said body and yet is free to move longitudinally thereof.

In the best form of my invention the body or frame of the base clamp 1 is made from two pieces of sheet metal 1a and 1b fastened together by spot-welding as at 10.

The panel 9 of the copy-holding member 3, Figures 2, 6, 7 and S, is constructed at its opposite sides with inturned marginal flaps 25, which not onlystifl'en and reinforce the panel longitudinally but also provide the same with rounded side edges 26 which is desirable in order to avoid cutting edges.

At its bottom the panel 9 is provided with an integral forwardly extending flap 27 which not only provides a shelf on which various things may be supported but which ill also serves to stiffen said lower end transversely.

At its top the panel 9 is made with two integral flaps 28 and 29, the former being folded rearwardly and inwardly against the back side of the panel not only to reinforce and stiffen the greater portion of the top o'l panel S.) but also to provide a rounded top edge at the junction of said flap with the panel 9. The other lap 29 is relatively short in length and bent sharply forward into perpendicular relationship with the panel 9, said flap being: formed with an aperture which is longitudinally alined with an aperturo provided. through the shelf flap 27 at the bottom of" the panel. The apertures of the two flaps 9.7 and. 29 are occupied by the reduced end portions of a rod or bar 30 whose extremities are upset or headed as at 31 thereby to rigidly fasten the opposite ends of the rod or bar to said flaps.

its shown in Figure (3. the rod or bar 30 is disposed adjacent, and parallel with, the ri 'ht-hand side edge of panel 9 and has adjiestabl v mounted upon it the liner element 11;.

'lhe liner element 11 eon'iprises a straighted re bar of sheet metal 32 provided at one end with an integral perpendicular post 33. see Figures 3, 41:, 5 and 6, havinga reduced end finger grip portion 352a extending through a slot 34-. provided in a sheet metal lmw-sprinp; 1 35. lhe post 33 constitutes one in of a clamp which embraces the rod or bar 30, the other jaw of said clamp being shown at 36 and having a reduced outer end portion 36o extending through another slot 37 termed in the bow sprinn' 35. The rod or bar 30 occupies a position between the two j aws 33 and 36 of the liner clamp, and, as will be clear, the bow-spring" operates through said two jaws to hold the liner element trictionally clamped in position on the rod or her so that it is normally held, against movement longitudinally thereof.

lt will be clear that by pre no; together the two linger jiortions 32a and one the lines.- elcmcnt 11 can be rmclamped from the bar 30 when it is de ired to adjust said liner long-tin whee thereof. Thus, the liner clamp, including the bow-sprin r 35, serves to hold the liner in adjusted position on the rod or bar 30.

At its free end the strairght edge bar 32 is provided upon inner side with a 1'11! her button 38, Figures 23. 6 and 7., inch serves as a cushion and also prevents the straight cdgre bar 31 from scratching the face oi? the panel 9.

fit the top of the panel 9 there is provided a pa Jer-holdin bow-sorina 39 which on braces the top portion. of: the panel and has its rear leg); fastened by rivets l0 to said panel whereby its other front legr '9' caused to bear vieldi giv against the front side ol" the panel, the lm'er end portion of said front leg being obliquely disposed with respect to the panel 9 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, so that papers or the like can be slid edgewise into position thereunder.

By constructing the panel 9 with marginal flaps 25, 27, 28 and 29 disposed described, said panel may be made from very thin sheet metal and at the same time it is so reinforced that it is still and strong. Also sharp cutting edges are, in most part, avoided.

The straight-edge bar 32 and the clamp aw 36 are preferably made from sheet metal as shown. Also the socket 7 is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal.

Figs. 16 and 1? illustrate an alternative form oi intermediate radius-arm member 2 which is longitudinally extensible and con tiractible, said member comprising two tubular sections 264 and S2?) with the section 2a fitted telescopically within the section 2?) and spliced thereto by means of a lug or tang 20 on section 20, which is slidable within a longitudinal slot 20! formed in sect-ion 2?).

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for desks and the like comprising a base clamp-member having a pair of jaws to en'ibrace the overhanging mar- ,rrinal portion of the top of a desk or the like and operable :to fixedly grip the latter, said base clamp-member being made at its top with a vertical socket that is above and aaially alinc-d with said aws; an intermediate cantilever men'lbcr made adjacent one end with a depending trunnion rotatably supported within said socket thereby to permit said cantilever member to swing horizontally above the top of the desk or the like, and a copy-holding member pivotally su ported above the plane of said top by the free end oi said cantilever member so that it is angularly adjustable independently on a vertical axis.

2. An attachment for desks and the like comprising a base clamp-member having a pair of jaws to embrace the overhanging marginal portion oi the top of a desk or the like including; a lower fixed aw and an upper movable jaw, said base clan'ip-member being made adjacent its top with a vertical socket and having a threaded aperture adjacent the bottom of said socket, and a screw for operating said movable jaw, said screw being mounted within said threaded aperture and having its upper portion disposed within said socket; an intermediate cantilever member made adjacent one end with a depending tubular trunnion rotatably supported within said socket thereby to permit said cantilever member to swing horizontally above the top of the desk or the like, said tubular trunnion surrounding the upper portion of said screw, and a copy-holding member pivotally supported above the plane of said top by the free end oi said cantilever member so that it is angularly adjustable independently on a vertical axis.

3. An attachment for desks and the like comprising a base clamp-member having a pair of jaws to embrace the overhanging marginal portion of the top of a desk or the like including a lower lined jaw and an uoper movable jaw, said base clamp-member being made ed'acent its top with a vertical socket and l aving a threaded aperture adjacent the bottom or said socket, a screw for operating said movable jaw, said screw extendingupwardly from said movable aw through said aded aperture and socket with its upper l disposed above the latter so that it is'aesible;

. an intermediate cantilever member made ad acent one end with a depending tubular trunnion rotatably supported within said socket thereby to permit said cantilever member to swing horizontally above the top of the desk or the like, said tubular trunnion surrounding the upper portion of said screw, and a copy-holding member pivotally supported above the plane of said top by the free end of said cantilever member so that it is angularly adjustable independently on a vertical axis.

4:. An attachment for desks and the like constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein said breaded aperture is formed through a nut element occupying a position within the lower end portion of said socket and wherein sai d clamp-member includes a body made from sheet metal formed with a lug thatvis engaged witu said nut element so as to hold the latter in position within the lower end of said socket and against rotation with the screw.

An attachment for desks and the like comprising a base clamp-member having a pair of jaws to embrace the overhanging marginal portion or" the top of a desk or the like including a lower fined jaw and an u per movable jaw, said base clamp-member being made adjacent its top with a v ,rtical socket and havinga threaded aperture adjacent the bottom of saic socket, and a screw for operatin g said inovable aw, said screw being mounted within said threaded aperture and having its upper portion disposed within said socket; an intermediate cantilever member consistii of a length of metal tubing having its end portions bent in opposite directions to pro vide a depending tubular trunnion at one end that is rotatably supported within said socket thereby to permit said cantilever member to swing horizontally above the top of the desk or the like, said depending tubular trunnion surrounding the upper portion of said screw, and also to provide a verti al upstanding trunnion at the free end of said intermediate cantilever member, and a copy-holding member having a socket telescopically fitted upon said upstanding trunnion portion so that it is supported above the plane of said top and angularly adjustable independently on said upstanding trunnion.

6. An attachment for desks and the like comprising a base clamp-member having a pair of aws to embrace the overhanging marginal portion of the top of a desk or the like and ble fixedly. grip the latter an in erine riate cantilever member supported ad acent one endby said base clamp-member so as to swing horizontally thereon above the top of the desk or the like on a vertical axis, said intermediate cantilever member being extei ale and contra-ctible longitudinally whereby its length may be varied, and a copyholding member pivotally supported above the plane of said top by the free end of said can \"er member so that it is angularly adjustable iudependentl on a vertical axis.

7. The combination with a base clampi' ber having a of jaws to embrace the marginal portion of the top of like including body made with fixed jaw and an upper movable jaw,

a lower said body being made adjacent its top with a vertical socket and having a threaded aperture a jacent the bottom or said socket, and

scre for operating said movable jaw mounted within said threaded aperture and its upper portion disposed within said eta cantilever member having a detubular trunnion rotatably supported within said socket thereby to permit s 'l cantilever nember'to swing horizontally r 1 "1e top of the desk or the like, said trunnion surrounding and enclosing the up- 8. The combination with a base clampmember having a pair of jaws to embrace the overhanging marginal portion of the top of a desk orthe like including a body made with a lower fixed jaw and an upper movable jaw,

body being made adjacent its top with SOI 

